Classroom+Quotes!

**__On Both Sides of the Wall: Memoirs from the Warsaw Ghetto__**

By: Vladka Meed //"Some refused to believe the story; even those who did refused to entertain the thought that we might meet the same end some day. That Warsaw, our capital, should suffer such a disaster was simply past belief."//

I chose this quote from the except because it really stood out to me. I agree with the concept that it is truly hard to grasp some total disaster in your life, but why couldn't they? I have no idea what this would be like, and perhaps if I was, I would have the same reaction. Though since the Jews were taken from their homes, their lives almost destroyed, why couldn't it be possible for them to believe that some of the Jews were being gassed to death. Also, if some of the Jews did believe this why did they not take it too seriously? I understand that it is hard to grasp this actually happening, it definitely did. If the Jews were tortured and used as scapegoats in the past, why wouldn't they now? Altogether, this is a highly complicated subject that could be greatly debated.

That was the same question I had, If another Jew came to them and told them that there were others being taken into gass chambers, then why wouldn't they believe them, after all they are fellow jews, and probly by the looks of them they could tell if there story was true or not. -Steph-

__Night__

//By: Elie Wiesel

"Besides, people were interested in everything- in strategy, in diplomacy, in politics, in Zionism- but not their own fate."//

Though this quote is talking about how people could not believe that in the 20th century something as bad as the Holocaust could happen, I really like this quote. I feel this way because it says that just because we live in a civilized world, does not mean great tragedies that are caused by man can happen. We believe in freedom, human rights, etc, but genocides are still happening as we speak. I think that this quote speaks the great truth about how cruel man can be to others. Good choice - not one that students usually point out. I like your response to it - food for thought. M. Fegan

__Nuremburg (Movie)__

This movie was interesting to me because it was like a grand event to see Nazi leaders in the same place as America and other country's people, judges, lawyers, etc. It clarified my questions "So what happened after the war?" and "What was the Nazi leader's fate?" There were many interesting characters in this movie, but one person who caught my attention was Goering and his family. He believed in Hitler and his beliefs too, and he showed no remorse for his actions. However, I think that he was hiding his true feelings deep inside, because he was so well known as a military SS leader. Another thing that I noticed was his family, and their reactions. One thing that I noticed was that Goering's wife was more upset over him being arrested than actually being sentenced to death. A few minutes after Goering said he would more than likely be hanged, the wife asked if they could take some of the food from the prision. Also, his daughter seemed so normal, so that is a fact that the Nazi leaders lived everyday lives outside of their jobs. I did feel somewhat uncertain about their sentence, I believe that they deserved a punishment, no doubt. When the movie was over I felt the overwhelming sense of justice. The reaction of Goering's family has always fascinated me, especially his wife's reaction. I would love to find out more about her and what happened to her after the war. M. Fegan

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